Portable Exercise Device

ABSTRACT

A portable workout device is disclosed. The device has a gripping bar, a waistband having front and rear surfaces, a plurality of opposing attachment rings attached to the waistband front surface, a plurality of resistance bands selectively attached between the gripping bar and selected opposing attachment rings. The device may be used by placing the waistband around the waist or body of a user with the rear surface of the waistband against the user&#39;s back and with the user&#39;s hands on the gripping bar in front of the user. The user&#39;s arms are then extended to move the gripping bar outward away from the user&#39;s body against the resistance provided by the resistance bands. The device may be used while the user is seated, standing, walking or running.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/721,012 filed Aug. 22, 2018 for “Portable Exercise Device”, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to exercise equipment. More particularly, this invention relates to a portable, adjustable, personal exercise device and method of use that when assembled allows a user to perform a variety of resistance exercises including bench press type exercises and when disassembled allows for ready transport and reassembly.

BACKGROUND

Repetitive resistance exercise is a well-known exercise technique. Equipment designed for use in performing resistance exercises sometimes utilizes elastic cords which are extended or stretched to provide the exercise resistance. In most such devices the elastic cords devices to Elastic cords are anchored to a stationary object such as a hook on a wall or door. In other devices the elastic cords are provided with a loop at the ends where a user's feet can be inserted to anchor the cords. In other devices a handle or grip is provided which a user can grab and hold while stretching the cords to provide exercise resistance. Examples of such uses are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,578,775 to Terry and U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,867 to Hinds. However, these devices do not allow a user to simulate bench press exercises and a need exists for such a device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a portable resistance workout device intended for exercise of a user's chest, shoulder, back, arms. The exercise device, sometimes referred to herein as the Plum-Bar, is comprised of a gripping bar or rod connected to a waistband by a plurality of resistance bands. The device was developed as substitute for the use of barbells or other free weights for use by those that do not have access to or that have trouble using a regular weight bench. Because the device is portable and easily assembled and disassembled, it may be used at a variety of locations including at home, at an office, or while traveling.

The gripping bar is preferably made of steel and it may be comprised of a single bar. Each end of the gripping bar has attachment eyes for receiving and pivotal attachment of a clip or shackle such as a carabiner. The gripping bar may be provided with grips having a padded or resilient surface to enhance the user's comfort and gripping ability. The griping bar may also be comprised of one or more individual multiple bars that are threadedly attached or telescopically attached to form the gripping bar with an attachment eye at each end. Preferably the gripping bar will be between 3 to 3.5 feet in length when assembled and will be readily assembled and disassembled without any tools needed.

The waistband is comprised of a belt or strap having a rear surface for contact with the user and a front surface having at least two opposing attachment rings. The rear surface of the waistband may be padded in areas where it may be in contact with a user. An array of opposing attachment rings such as D-rings may be provided on the front surface of the waistband. The attachment rings may be attached to loops on a reinforcement band that is sewn and fitted to the front surface of the waistband. The padded waistband may be comprised of polyester, cotton, elastic strips, nylon or other polymer materials, leather or combinations of those materials. The array of opposing attachment rings allows the position of the resistance band to adjusted depending upon the size of the user.

Each resistance band is comprised of an elastic cord or band such as rubber webbing rubber tubing, or a rubber strap. The ends of each resistance band have a releasable attachment clip or shackle, such as a swivel eye snap clip. The attachment clips on the resistance bands allow for releasable attachment of the resistance bands between the shackle on the gripping bar and a selected attachment ring on the front surface of the waistband. One or more resistance bands may be attached between the waistband and each carabiner. A selection of resistances bands each having a desired resistance may be provided. The resistance bands may be color coded to indicate the bands resistance level.

For use the Plum-Bar device is assembled by selecting a resistance band and attaching the attachment clip at one end of the selected resistance band to the shackle on one end the gripping bar and attaching the attachment clip at the opposite end of the selected resistance band to a selected attachment ring on the front of the waistband. A second resistance band is then selected and the process is repeated to attach the second selected resistance band to the shackle on the opposite end the gripping bar and to a selected opposing attachment ring on the front of the waistband.

Once assembled the Plum-bar device is placed around the user with the waistband around the user's back or waist and with the gripping bar in front of the user where it may be gripped by the user's hands. When the Plum-bar device is placed in such a position, the user's arms may be extend in a pushing motion and the resistance bands will provided resistance against the pushing to provide a resistance workout. The Plum-bar device may be used while the user is standing or while the user is in a supine position on the floor or on a workout bench. When used in this manner a bench press type workout may be achieved. The Plum-bar device may also be used while the user is walking or running to enhance the effectiveness of a user's workout.

An advantage of the Plum-bar device is that the workout resistance may be readily increased or decreased by adding or reducing the number of resistance bands attached between each end of the gripping bar and the waistband.

Another advantage is that the workout resistance may be readily adjusted for the size of a particular user by selection of desired opposing attachment rings on the waistband when the resistance bands are attached between each end of the gripping bar and the waistband.

Another advantage of the Plum-bar device is that it may be used while the user is walking or running.

A still another advantage of the Plum-bar device is that it may be easily disassembled and transported from location to location.

Other advantages will be apparent for the disclosures made herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top view of an assembled portable exercise device of Applicant's invention.

FIG. 2 shows an end-view of the assembled portable exercise device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic side-view of a two-piece gripping bar for threaded attachment as an alternate embodiment of the gripping bar of the portable exercise device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic side-view of a two-piece gripping bar for telescopic attachment as an alternate embodiment of the gripping bar of the portable exercise device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a top-view of and alternate embodiment of the waistband of the portable exercise device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5A is a side-view of the waistband shown in FIG. 5.

FIGS. 6-16 are illustrations of the method of use of the portable exercise device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 17 is a table showing an example of how resistance bands may be color coded to allow a user to readily select the desired resistance provided by the portable exercise device shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Unless otherwise specified, the illustrated embodiments can be understood as providing exemplary features of varying detail of certain embodiments, and therefore, unless otherwise specified, features, components, elements, and/or aspects of the drawings can be otherwise combined, interconnected, sequenced, separated, interchanged, positioned, and/or rearranged without materially departing from the herein disclosed invention. The elements illustrated in the drawings are provided primarily to facilitate understanding of the disclosed technology and are not necessarily drawn to scale or with precise accuracy.

FIG. 1 shows the portable resistance workout device 10 of Applicant's invention. The device 10 is comprised on of a gripping bar or rod 12 releasably connected to a waistband 14 by a plurality of resistance bands 16. Each end of the gripping bar 12 has attachment eyes 20 for receiving and pivotal attachment of a clip or shackle 22 such as a carabiner. The gripping bar 12 may be provided with grips 24 having a padded or resilient surface to enhance the user's comfort and gripping ability. The gripping bar 12 is preferably made of steel though other materials may be utilized and the gripping bar 12 may be a single bar or it may be comprised of two or more attachable and detachable bar segments. Preferably the gripping bar will be between 3 to 3.5 feet in length though it may be of any suitable length. The resistance bands 16, the waistband 14, and gripping bar 12 configured as described herein allow a user to create, modify and use a variety of resistance exercises as well as readily change exercise resistance.

The waistband 14 is comprised of a belt or strap 26 having a rear surface 28 and a front surface 30. The rear surface 28 may be padded as it is typically in contact with a user's body when the device 10 is in use. Securely attached to the front surface 30 of the waistband 14 is a plurality of opposing attachment rings 32 such as D-rings. As shown, the attachment rings 32 are attached through loops 36 on a reinforcement ring band 38 that is fitted to the front surface 30 of the waistband are securely attached to waistband 14 by stitching, rivets, or other suitable fastening devices. The D-rings utilized as attachment rings 32 may be rectangular in shape or they may be comprised of circular or oval ring segments. Multiple pairs of opposing attachment rings 32 may be utilized to allow a user to make adjustments in the fit of the waist band and in the exercise resistance afforded by the straps 16. The waistband 14 may be comprised of polyester, cotton, elastic strips, nylon or other polymer materials, leather or combinations of those materials.

As shown in FIG. 2, each resistance band 16 is comprised of at least one elastic cord or band 40 having a first end 42 and a second end 44. The cords or bands 40 of each resistance band 16 may be any suitable elastic cord or band that will supply a desired pulling resistance. Suitable cords or bands 40 may be elastic cords or straps made of single or multiple strands of rubber, synthetic rubber, bungee cords, elastic webbing, tubing, or other similar elastic material. A releasable attachment clip or shackle 46 is attached to the first end 42 of each resistance band 16 and releasable attachment clip or shackle 48 is attached to the second end 44 of each resistance band 16. The first attachment clip 46 and the second attachment clip 48 on each resistance band allows releasable attachment of the resistance bands 16 between a selected shackle 22 on the gripping bar and a selected attachment ring 32 on the front surface 30 of the waistband 14. One or more resistance bands 16 may be attached between a selected attachment ring 32 of the waistband 14 and a shackle 22 on the gripping bar 12. A selection of resistances bands 16 each having a desired resistance may be provided. Each of the resistance bands 16 may be color coded to indicate the bands resistance level.

FIG. 3 shows an alternate embodiment of the gripping bar 12 comprised of two individual bar segments shown as 18 a and 18 b. The individual bar segments 18 a and 18 b of gripping bar 12 may be threadedly attached together by means of internal attachment treads 46 a at the end 49 of griping bar 18 a that correspond with and mate with external attachment threads 46 b at the end 50 of gripping bar 18 b.

FIG. 4 is another alternate embodiment of the griping bar 12 may also be comprised of individual bars shown as 18 c and 18 d. The individual bars 18 c have an externally threaded end 52 having a bore 54 configured to slidably receive the externally threaded end 56 of individual bar 18 d. A threaded nut 58 configured to mate with the treaded end 52 of bar 18 c and the threaded end 56 of bar 18 d may then be threadedly attached to individual bars as 18 c and 18 d to secure them together.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 5A show an alternate embodiment of the waistband 14 having a strap or handle 39 securely attached to the front surface 30 of the waistband 14. The waistband handle 39 extends outward from the front surface 30 of the waistband 14 to facilitate gripping by a user. The waistband handle 39 may be used to grip the waistband 14 when performing an exercise such as the bow-and-arrow exercise depicted in FIG. 13. The waistband handle 39 may be comprised of polyester, cotton, elastic strips, nylon or other polymer materials, leather or combinations of those materials.

For use the device 10 is assembled as shown in FIG. 1 by first selecting a desired resistance band 16 from a plurality of resistance bands and attaching attachment clip 48 of the selected resistance band 16 to the shackle 22 on one end the gripping, bar 12 and attaching the attachment clip 46 at the opposite end of the selected resistance band 16 to a selected attachment ring 32 on the front of the waistband 14. A second resistance band 16 is then selected and the process is repeated to attach the second selected resistance band 16 to the shackle 22 on the opposite end the gripping bar 12 and to a selected opposing attachment ring 32 on the front surface 30 of the waistband 14. The process may be repeated until a desired number of resistance bands 16 are attached.

FIGS. 6-16 show a selection of exercises that may be accomplished with the device 10. When assembled as described, the device 10 is placed around the back or waist of a user 60 with the waistband 14 around the user's body and with the gripping bar 12 in front of the user 60 where it may be gripped by the user's hands. When the device 10 is placed in such a position, the arms of user 60 may be extended outwardly in a pushing motion against the bar 12 to move the bar 12 away from the body of the user 60. When the arms of user 60 are extended as described the resistance bands 16 attached between the waistband 14 and the bar 12 will stretch and provide resistance against the outward pushing of the bar 12 and thus provide a resistance workout for the user 60. The device 10 may be used while the user 60 is standing, sitting or squatting or when the user is in a pushup position parallel to a floor or ground surface.

Standing exercises using the device 10 are shown in FIGS. 6-8 and FIGS. 11-15. FIG. 9 shows user 60 performing a resistance pushup with the bar 12 of the device 10 placed on a floor or ground surface 62. The extension and retraction of the arms of user 60 will stretch and relax the bands 16 creating the resistance pushup exercise. Varying the position of the waistband 14 of the device 10 on the user's body, varying the user's grip on the bar 12, or varying the angle of the gripping bar 12 with respect to vertical as shown in FIGS. 6-8 and FIGS. 11-15 will allow user 60 to work a variety of selected muscle groups and muscle group combinations to further enhance the resistance workout. As one example, the device 10 may be employed with the bar 12 gripped by user 60 with a palms-up grip as shown in FIG. 12 to vary the workout and the muscle groups being worked. Similar, resistance workouts may be accomplished while the user 60 is in a squatting position as shown in FIG. 16. The device 10 may also be used while user 60 is in a sitting position as shown in FIG. 10. The device 10 may also be used while the user is walking or running to enhance the effectiveness of the user's workout.

The device 10 may also be used in a bow-and-arrow position as shown in FIG. 13. In the bow-and-arrow position illustrated, user 60 grabs the bar 12 with the arm of one hand and extends the bar grabbing arm outward from the body. The handle 39 on the waistband 14 is then grabbed with the other hand of the user and that handle grapping arm is used to pull the waistband away from the bar 12 against the resistance provided by bands 16.

While not shown in the drawings, the device may also be used while the user 60 is in a supine position on a floor or on a workout bench with the waistband 14 under the user's back. When the device 10 is used in that manner, a bench press type workout may be conducted.

The device 10 may be provided with a variety of resistance bands 16. The resistance bands may be color coded and configured with a uniform length so that the resistance provided by the device 10 may be selectively varied by the user for use. By way of example, FIG. 17 shows color code chart illustrating a color coding scheme that may be utilized with the device 10. Should a user 60 desire a workout with 60 lbs. of resistance, a red band having 10 lbs. of resistance and a yellow band having 20 lbs. of resistance may be attached between the waistband 14 and the bar 12 at the shackle 22 each end of the bar 12. Doing so will provide a total resistance of at least 60 lbs.

The device 10 was developed as substitute for the use of barbells or other free weights for use by those that do not have access to or that have trouble using a regular weight bench. Because the device 10 is portable and easily assembled and disassembled it may be readily stored in a closet, drawer, cabinet, briefcase, or suitcase. The portability of the device 10 allows for its use at a variety of locations including at home, at an office, a gym, a park, or while traveling. 

I claim:
 1. A portable workout device comprising: a) a gripping bar, said gripping bar having a first and a second end; b) a waistband, said waistband having a front surface and a rear surface; c) first and second opposing rings attached to said front surface of said waistband; d) a plurality of resistance bands; e) a first resistance band, selected from said plurality of resistance bands, said first resistance band pivotally and removably attached between said first opposing ring on said front surface of said waistband and said first end of said gripping bar; and f) a second resistance band, selected from said plurality of resistance bands, said second resistance band pivotally and removably attached between said second opposing ring on said front surface of said waistband and said second end of said gripping bar.
 2. The portable workout device recited in claim 1, wherein said resistance bands are pivotally and removably attached to said bar by means of a shackle.
 3. The portable workout device recited in claim 2, wherein first and second opposing rings are selected from a plurality of opposing rings attached to said front surface of said waistband.
 4. The portable workout device recited in claim 3, wherein said plurality of resistance bands includes resistance bands of varying pulling resistance.
 5. The portable workout device recited in claim 4, wherein said plurality of resistance bands are color coded to designate said pulling resistance.
 6. The portable workout device recited in claim 5, wherein: a) a plurality of said resistance bands are pivotally and removably attached between said first opposing ring on said front surface of said waistband and said first end of said gripping bar; and b) a plurality of said resistance bands are pivotally and removably attached between said second opposing ring on said front surface of said waistband and said second end of said gripping bar.
 7. The portable workout device recited in claim 6, wherein said gripping bar is comprised of at least two gripping bar segments.
 8. The portable workout device recited in claim 7, wherein said gripping bar segments are attachable and detachable.
 9. The portable workout device recited in claim 8, wherein said rear surface of said waistband is padded.
 10. A portable workout device comprising: a) a gripping bar having at least two attachable and detachable griping bar segments, said gripping bar having a first and a second end when said gripping bar segments are attached; b) a waistband having a front surface and a rear surface; c) a plurality of opposing first and second rings attached to said front surface of said waistband; d) a plurality of resistance bands wherein said plurality of resistance bands includes resistance bands of varying pulling resistance; e) a first resistance band, selected from said plurality of resistance bands, said first resistance band pivotally and removably attached between a selected said first opposing ring from said plurality of opposing first and second rings on said front surface of said waistband and said first end of said gripping bar; and f) a second resistance band, selected from said plurality of resistance bands, said second resistance band pivotally and removably attached between a selected second opposing ring on said front surface of said waistband and said second end of said gripping bar.
 11. The portable workout device recited in claim 10, wherein said plurality of resistance bands are color coded to designate said pulling resistance.
 12. The portable workout device recited in claim 11, wherein said gripping bar segments are threadedly attached.
 13. The portable workout device recited in claim 11, wherein said gripping bar segments are telescopically attached.
 14. The portable workout device recited in claim 11, wherein said rear surface of said waistband is padded.
 15. The portable workout device recited in claim 14, wherein said front surface of said waistband has a handle.
 16. The portable workout device recited in claim 15, wherein said gripping bar has grip surfaces. 